Temple storms back, knocks off No. 16 Wichita State in OT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) Wichita State’s first season in the American Athletic Conference has hit a rough patch.

Obi Enechionyia hit two free throws with 18.1 seconds left in overtime, and Temple handed the 16th-ranked Shockers their third loss in five games with an 81-79 victory on Thursday night.

”There’s a lot of travel in this league. It’s a hard league,” Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. ”There’s some really good teams, terrific coaching that goes on, outstanding talent. You have to try to hold your end of the bargain at home.”

Moving from the Missouri Valley Conference, Wichita State is playing new teams in unfamiliar arenas and getting its opponents’ best shot.

How much did it mean to Temple to knock off a ranked opponent for the 11th straight year? Fans stormed the court after Markis McDuffie’s 3-point shot clanged off the rim and the ball caromed into the backcourt as time expired.

”It’s a game we feel like we could have won and maybe should have won,” Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. ”We had some good looks.”

Alston, who was just 5 of 22 from the field, made a driving layup in traffic with 6.8 seconds left in regulation. Zach Brown then missed a corner 3 for Wichita State as time expired.

The Shockers led by as many as 12 points in first half, but nine second-half turnovers and Temple’s inspired play produced a comeback.

Temple entered with an odd resume – just a game above .500, yet ranked No. 44 in the RPI thanks to a brutal schedule and wins over Auburn and Clemson.

The Owls frustrated the Shockers despite Morris’ big night. The rugged big man eclipsed 1,000 career points in the second half and his dunk with 2:19 left in overtime made it 79-74.

Wichita State, which tumbled in the rankings after consecutive losses to conference foes SMU and Houston, didn’t score again.

”We turned it over too much,” Marshall said. ”We had careless passes in the second half.”

BIG PICTURE

Wichita State: The Shockers are learning tough lessons in their first season in the AAC. Too many turnovers (16, with 10 after halftime) and 1-of-10 shooting from 3-point range in the second half were too much to overcome.

Temple: The record doesn’t show it, but the Owls can make a case for the NCAA Tournament thanks to their tough schedule, strong RPI and big wins. A strong finish would put them in consideration despite the 10 losses.

FAMILY SQUABBLE

McDuffie scored 11 points as his sister sat behind the opposing bench. Sierra is in her second season as a graduate manager for Temple. She played basketball at Division II Felician in New Jersey.

ELITE 8 MEMORIES

Temple at halftime honored the Mark Macon-led team that reached the East Region final 30 years ago before falling to Duke.